Internal-combustion engine



F. B. GIRVIN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGI NE 1922 2 Shee1sSheet 1 Filed Oct.5,

QMQMM New. 4 1924. 1,514,289

' Y F. B. GIRVIN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Oct. 5, 1922 2sheets-sheet 2 Patented Nov. 4, 1924.

UNITED STATES FITZHUGH-B. GIRVIN, GEORGETOWN, TEXAS.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION I ENGINE.

Application filed October 3, 1922. Serial No. 592,130.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, FrrzHUGH B. GIRVIN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Georgetown, in the county of Williamson. State of Texas,have invented a new and useful Internal-Combustion Engine; andI dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to multiple cylinder internal combustion engines,and has for its object to provide a device of thisv character comprisingelongated cylinders, in the opposite ends of which pistons are slidablymounted and connected tocrank shafts at opposite sides of the cylinders,which crank shafts have connecting rod connections whereby they will berotated in unison by the various pistons. Also to provide rotary intakeand exhaust valves disposed aboveand below the cylinders intermediatethe ends thereof whereby the single charge will operate the pistons atthe opposite end of each cylinder.

A further object is to provide gear means for controlling the rotationof the valves whereby different speeds of rotation may be obtained,thereby allowing the speed of operation of the engine to be controlled.

\Vith the above and other objects in view the invention resides in thecombination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown inthe drawing, describedv and claimed, it being understood that changes inthe precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope ofwhat is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the engine showing a portion of thecasing broken away to better show the structure.

Figure 2 is an end view of the engine, part being broken away to bettershow the structure.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through the engine taken on line33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the rotary valves.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse sectional view through one of thecylinders taken on line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the casing of theengine, which casing is provided with a plurality of elongated cylinders2, in which cylinders, at the opposite ends thereof are slidably mountedpistons 4. The pistons 4 move outwardly and inwardly towards each otherand are provided with connecting rods the outer ends of which areconnected to crank shafts 6 through the medium of cranks 7. It will beseen that when the pistons are forced outwardly that the cranks 6 willsimultaneously rotate thereby imparting rotation to the fly wheels 8.The cranks 6 are connected together adjacent their ends by means ofconnecting rods 9 which are connected to cranks 10, thereby insuringaccurate and simultaneously timed rotation of the shaft. The shafts 6are pro vided with crank engaging members 11 for the reception of acrank handle 12, whereby the engine may be started in the usual manner.Disposed above the cylinders 2 and rotatably mounted in a taperedbearing 12 is a tapered rotary intake valve 13, which valve is providedwith a plurality of transversely disposed intake ports 14, which duringthe rotation of the valve comes into the registration with the ports 15in the casing 1 and allow passage of fuel through the intake pipe 16 tothe cylinders 2, intermediate their ends, and between the pistons 4therein, where the fuel will be ignited by the spark plugs 17 and thepiston simultaneouslyforced outwardly. The valve 13 is provided with aspring 18 for maintaining the same tight within the tapered bearing 12.Disposed below the valve 13 and the cylinders 2 is a rotatably taperedexhaust valve 19, similarly shaped as the valve'12 and provided with aplurality of exhaust ports 20 extending therethrough, which exhaustports, are during the rotation of the valve 19 moved into registrationwith the exhaust ports 21 in the casing 1, ports 20 being positionedwhereby when the pistons 4 start inwardly on their exhaust stroke theywill register with the ports 21 and allow the exhaust of the gasesthrough the exhaust pipe 22, which exhaust pipe is provided with a draincock 23 for allowing drainage of the engine, especially when steam isused instead of an explosive fuel.

Secured to the outer ends of the valves 13 and 19 are gears 23, whichgears mesh, with anidle gear 24:, therefore the gears 23 willsimultaneously rotate when the idle gear 24 is rotated. Secured to theidle gear 24 is a bevel gear 25, which bevelled gear 25 is adapted to beengaged by one of the bevelled gears 26 of the transversely shiftableshaft 27 rotatably mounted in bearings of the easing. The shaft 27adjacent its outer ends is provided with bevelled gears 28, which areadapted to be moved into and out of mesh with the small bevelled gear 29carried by one of the crank shafts 6, and a large bevelled gear '30carried by the other crank shaft 6 for increasing or diminishing thespeed of rotation of the bevelled gear 25 thereby allowing the valves tobe rotated for operating at a high or a low speed, said shifting ofthe-shaft 27 being controlled by a lever 31. Valve 19 is provided with aspring 32, similar to the spring 18 for mainlaining the same tightlyseated at'all times.

From the above it will be seen that an opposed cylinder engine isprovided which is simple in construction, one wherein the samecombustion chamber is used for opp0- site pistons, cylinder heads areeliminated, and one wherein a speed of operation may be controlled. Itwill also be seen that the and at the outer ends of the cylinders,connecting rod connections between the crank shafts and the pistons, arotary intake valve above the cylinders centrally thereof at a rightangle to the cylinders and in a plane at one side thereof and havingports of communication therewith, an exhaust valve below the cylindersat a right angle thereto and in a plane at the other side thereof fromthe intake valve and having ports of communication therewith and meansfor simultaneously rotating said intake and exhaust valves, said lastnamed means being controlled at various speeds from either crank shaftand by a single lever between the crank shafts.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

. FITZHUGH B. GIRVINQ Witnesses C. H. GEE, H. C. GEE.

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